Thalamic nuclei
Learning objectives
After completing this study unit you will be able to:
- Understand the internal structure of the thalamus.
- Identify each group of thalamic nuclei.
- Name the nuclei of the thalamus, their specific locations, and their functions.
Watch video
A nucleus refers to a collection of nerve cell bodies (gray matter) in the central nervous system. The thalamus mostly consists of gray matter divided into several groups of thalamic nuclei. A Y-shaped mass of white matter (internal medullary lamina) divides the substance of the thalamus into three primary groups of nuclei: anterior, medial and lateral. In addition, the thalamus also contains intralaminar, periventricular (midline), posterior and geniculate nuclei.
The thalamic nuclei have many important functions, some of which are the integration of sensory information and the regulation of motor activity and consciousness.
The following video will provide you with an overview of the internal structure of the thalamus and a detailed description of its nuclei.
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Browse atlas
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Take a closer look at the thalamic nuclei in the gallery below.
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/thalamus-9/spA2heICPXnK4xnSNknuA_Thalamus_01.png "Thalamus; Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/medial-medullary-lamina/Foyhf9AY7NDaxvVnV8bcig_Internal_Medullary_Lamina_01.png "Medial medullary lamina (Lamina medullaris medialis); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/anterior-nuclei-of-thalamus/LofI4eia2bs1pkNKYCY7sQ_Anterior_Nuclear_group_01.png "Anterior nuclei of thalamus (Nuclei anteriores thalami); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/lateral-thalamic-nuclei/6fGgVTvcTTJYUx3lECWhAQ_Laterl_Thalamic_Nuclei_01.png "Lateral nuclei of thalamus (Nuclei laterales thalami); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/ventral-anterior-nucleus/lrzjitrF3Zc4JRVTjkUNdQ_Ventral_Anterior_Nucleus_01.png "Ventral anterior nucleus (Nucleus ventralis anterior); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/lateral-dorsal-nucelus/0jyvpS4sKWCV4OLVtFrxdw_Lateral_Dorsal_Nucleus_01.png "Lateral dorsal nucleus (Nucleus dorsalis lateralis); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/lateral-posterior-nucelus/8d0vTTkmQxa05oC9CXr1ow_Lateral_Posterior_Nucleus_01.png "Lateral posterior nucleus (Nucleus lateralis posterior); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/ventral-lateral-nucleus/Mm51VCBDZxcDcWwtSMMObw_Ventral_Lateral_Nucleus_01.png "Ventral lateral nucleus (Nucleus ventralis lateralis); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/ventral-posterolateral-nucleus/3MDQ0chreA50fkXNGzu3Vw_Ventral_Posterior_Lateral_Nucleus_01.png "Ventral posterolateral nucleus (Nucleus ventralis posterolateralis); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/ventral-posteromedial-nucleus-2/3FVv4gNvvTPPdTicLRzA_Ventral_Posterior_Medial_Nucleus_01.png "Ventral posteromedial nucleus (Nucleus ventralis posteromedialis); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/pulvinar-of-thalamus-4/CuMvGLo0b1M9Sdy4f9IVw_Pulvinar_01.png "Pulvinar of thalamus (Pulvinar thalami); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/lateral-geniculate-nucleus-6/6nWyTZhSnqVq6ytsGYcvMg_Lateral_Geniculate_Body_01.png "Lateral geniculate body (Corpus geniculatum laterale); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/medial-geniculate-nucleus-5/XQZgCOnx6J0Az24k9v52NQ_Medial_Geniculate_Body_copy_01.png "Medial geniculate body (Corpus geniculatum mediale); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/medial-dorsal-nucleus/o7auT5NW8rRmaiEZlURI5g_Medial_t_nuclei_copy.png "Mediodorsal nucleus (Nucleus mediodorsalis); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/intralaminar-nuclei-of-thalamus/fOpvxhf5MVzEIGVfXejfFw_Intralaminar_Nuclei_01.png "Intralaminar nuclei of thalamus (Nuclei intralaminares thalami); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/midline-nuclear-group/vYQF6i6JRlsCL90sjvv8aA_Midline_Thalamic_Nuclei_01.png "Periventricular nuclei of thalamus (Nuclei periventriculares thalami); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/thalamic-reticular-nucleus/lyyuj6YiPfCcVGlTb2RXQ_Thalamic_Recticular_nucleus_01.png "Thalamic reticular nucleus (Nucleus reticularis thalami); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
Summary
| Types of nuclei | Relay nuclei, association nuclei, non-specific nuclei |
| Groups of nuclei | Anterior nuclei of thalamus Lateral nuclei of thalamus Medial nuclei of thalamus Intralaminar nuclei of thalamus Periventricular (midline) thalamic nuclei Reticular nucleus of thalamus |
| Anterior nuclei of thalamus | Anteroventral, anterodorsal, anteromedial, lateroal dorsal nuclei |
| Lateral nuclei of thalamus | Ventral group (ventral anterior, ventral lateral, ventrobasal (ventral posteromedial, ventral posterolateral)) Dorsal (posterior) group (lateral posterior, pulvinar) Medial and lateral geniculate nuclei |
| Medial nuclei of thalamus | Mediodorsal nucleus (parvocellular, magnocellular, paralaminar parts) |
| Intralaminar nuclei of thalamus | Anterior group: Central medial, paracentral, central lateral nuclei Central group: Centromedian, parafascicular, subparafascicular nuclei Posterior group: Limitans, suprageniculate nucleui |
| Periventricular (midline) nuclei | Paraventricular, parataenial, medioventral (reuniens) |
| Functions | Relaying limbic, sensory and motor signals to the cerebral cortex; Regulating consciousness, sleep, alertness |
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